This calculator helps you estimate the cost of petrol for your car based on the distance you plan to travel, your car's fuel efficiency, and the current price of petrol. Understanding these costs is crucial for budgeting your travel expenses, whether for daily commutes, road trips, or business purposes.
How the Calculation Works
The calculation involves a few simple steps:
1. Calculate Fuel Needed: First, we determine how many litres of petrol your journey will require. This is done by dividing the total distance you intend to travel by your car's fuel efficiency.
Fuel Needed (litres) = Distance Travelled (km) / Fuel Efficiency (km/litre)
2. Calculate Total Cost: Once we know the total litres of fuel needed, we multiply this by the price of petrol per litre to get the estimated total cost.
Total Petrol Cost ($) = Fuel Needed (litres) * Petrol Price per Litre ($)
Factors Affecting Fuel Consumption
It's important to note that the actual fuel consumption can vary. Several factors can influence how much petrol your car uses:
Driving Style: Aggressive acceleration and braking consume more fuel than smooth, steady driving.
Terrain: Driving uphill requires more energy and thus more fuel.
Traffic Conditions: Stop-and-go traffic, especially in urban areas, significantly increases fuel consumption.
Vehicle Load: Carrying extra weight in your car will slightly increase fuel usage.
Tyre Pressure: Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, leading to higher fuel consumption.
Vehicle Maintenance: A well-maintained engine and properly inflated tyres contribute to better fuel efficiency.
Air Conditioning: Using the AC can increase fuel consumption, especially at lower speeds.
Why Use This Calculator?
This tool is invaluable for:
Budgeting: Plan your travel expenses accurately.
Trip Planning: Estimate fuel costs for road trips and vacations.
Cost Comparison: Compare the running costs of different vehicles or routes.
Awareness: Gain a better understanding of your car's running expenses.
By inputting your specific details, you can get a reliable estimate to help you manage your automotive expenses effectively.
function calculatePetrolCost() {
var distance = parseFloat(document.getElementById("distance").value);
var fuelEfficiency = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fuelEfficiency").value);
var fuelPrice = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fuelPrice").value);
var resultValueElement = document.getElementById("result-value");
// Clear previous results and error messages
resultValueElement.textContent = "–";
// Input validation
if (isNaN(distance) || distance <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid distance travelled (greater than 0).");
return;
}
if (isNaN(fuelEfficiency) || fuelEfficiency <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid fuel efficiency (greater than 0 km/litre).");
return;
}
if (isNaN(fuelPrice) || fuelPrice < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid petrol price per litre (cannot be negative).");
return;
}
// Calculations
var fuelNeeded = distance / fuelEfficiency;
var totalCost = fuelNeeded * fuelPrice;
// Display result, formatted to two decimal places for currency
resultValueElement.textContent = "$" + totalCost.toFixed(2);
}